Paulo Costa Calls for Dricus du Plessis Next — Says Chimaev “Didn’t Want to Stand” With DDP

Quick hit: fresh off Dricus du Plessis’ first UFC loss, Paulo Costa wants the former champ—not an Izzy rematch—and claims Khamzat Chimaev leaned on control because DDP was too dangerous on the feet.

Roman numerals and résumés aside, the middleweight chessboard just got spicy.

Coming off a five-round, wrestling-heavy defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis finds himself with a new suitor. Paulo Costa—ranked No. 13 after his win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318—says he wants Du Plessis next, even more than a second crack at Israel Adesanya.

Speaking with Submission Radio, Costa didn’t mince words. He praised DDP as “unpredictable” and “tough to fight,” then doubled down on why the matchup intrigues him more than revisiting Adesanya: “Dricus is fresh off the belt,” Costa said. “He’s a tough guy… a tough guy to fight, to be honest.” The Brazilian added he’s targeting a return in November or December.

“Chimaev didn’t want any part of Dricus’ striking”

The UFC 319 main event split fans into two camps—“dominant control” vs. “dull blanket.” Costa landed firmly in the former camp about the takedowns—but he framed the approach as a necessity, not a choice.

“[Du Plessis is] very tough and Khamzat Chimaev knew that,” Costa said. “That’s why he held him so long… Even in the fifth, Dricus was still dangerous. Chimaev was afraid to fight him fairly.” In Costa’s words, it was 25 minutes of clinch-and-control because the stand-up risk was too high.

Whether that’s shade or strategy depends on your angle. But it underscores why Costa believes a fight with DDP would deliver: chaos potential, serious power on both sides, and a pace that doesn’t settle.

Why Du Plessis vs. Costa makes sense now

• Narrative heat: DDP needs a bounce-back from his first UFC setback; Costa wants a signature win to shove his way back into title talks.
• Style promise: Both crack, both pressure, and both can get wild. Costa’s pocket combos vs. DDP’s herky-jerky entries and late-fight surges is must-see.
• Marketability: Former champion vs. former title challenger. Clean, sellable poster.

The wrinkle: it leapfrogs Costa past several names in the rankings. But matchmaking is timing plus heat, and right now, this one has both.

What it means for the top of 185

• Chimaev: With a lopsided win over DDP in his back pocket, he can chase megafight options or entertain a mandatory-style contender.
• Adesanya: Always there for the big-stage moment; Costa-Izzy 2 remains a back-pocket play but isn’t Costa’s first choice.
• Du Plessis: A win over Costa resets everything quickly. A loss makes the climb steep.

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Costa picking DDP over Izzy is savvy. A striking-heavy war with Du Plessis is the shortest path to a headliner and puts him directly in the champion conversation again—especially if it lands in November/December. From the UFC side, DDP–Costa is a crowd-friendly correction fight for the former champ and a litmus for Costa’s late-2025 ambitions. If the brass wants violence and clean stakes without locking the current champ into immediate rematch chatter, this is the one to circle.

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